Practicing good etiquette is incredibly important in any situation and your job search is no exception. Thanks to social media and its newest addition, Google+, job seekers have even more opportunities to make good (or bad) impressions.
In a recent article by Ahmed Zeeshan, Google+ etiquette is outlined in the following eight sections:
Sharing
Just like Facebook and Twitter, you have the opportunity to share content with your followers. As the saying goes, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Post content with your circles in mind. Keep away from potentially offensive content.
Don’t spam your circles. No one wants this and will remove you. Pay attention to which circles are getting what content in order to space it all out.
Re-sharing
Give credit where credit’s due. If you really like something that someone else has posted, give them a quick nod by +Mentioning them in the re-share. Let them know they’re doing a good job by giving them feedback on the content.
Commenting
Be considerate of what you say. You’re entitled to your own opinion, but not to the point of offending someone else. Contribute something to the conversation instead of writing the same thing that several other people have written.
Following
When you follow someone new, especially someone that you don’t know, introduce yourself! You wouldn’t start a conversation with someone at a party without introducing yourself, so why do it here? When someone adds you to one of their circles, you don’t need to add them in return, but it will help develop a new connection.
Hangouts
This is a pretty neat tool from Google+. Now you can talk to all of your friends at the same time — for free! Just like hanging out in real-life, Zeeshan recommends that you use common sense etiquette-wise. Be mindful of how you communicate, don’t interrupt, and be polite.
Advertising
It can be tempting for some people to build a network of multiple circles, get people to listen to what you have to say, and then flood the channel with ads for your company, product, or one-man show. It’s the easiest way to get the word out and lose all of your important networking relationships. Submit links sparingly and allow your company to come up organically. You’ll get better feedback.
Huddles
Anyone using the Google+ app for iPhone or Android is familiar with this. Huddles enable users to link entire circles together, forcing people to join in a bigger conversation. This can be beneficial to groups that are interested in merging on one topic, but also can be very irritating. Huddle with care.
In general…
Just like the etiquette you use everyday online and offline, use your common sense on Google+. Don’t hide behind the sheer curtain of anonymity that the Internet provides. Your online presence is valuable in your job search, and developing a bad reputation could ruin all of your hard work.
What other etiquette rules should job seekers pay attention to while on Google+?
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